Another security related question-- coin related items laying around the house

Longacre · May 11, 2006 1:04AM

I posted a thread last week indicating my obsessive compulsive act of ripping my name off of an Esylum email that I threw out in a garbage can on the streets of DC. Now I have another dilemma. I finally acquiesed in Mrs. Longacre's desire to hire a "domestic engineer" to assist with the housework (like a fool, I left the hiring up to her; I was thinking French maid, but to my horror, Mrs. Longacre hired Consuela, who looks exactly like Alice from the Brady Bunch

). I usually leave coin-related items laying around the house, such as auction catalogs, the latest issue of CW, etc. For those on the boards who have domestic help or other strangers at their house, do you take extra precautions to make sure that no coin related items are around when they are in your house? The maid is bonded and insured, but what is to prevent her from telling her friends that there is a big time collector living in the house, and arrange for her buddies to burglarize the joint when we are not home? What advice can you provide?

Barndog · May 11, 2006 1:08AM

You will have to clean up your act unless you knew Consuela and her family before she became your employee. Chances are she is 100% trustworthy, but the possibility of that not being true and the damage that could result are worth picking up after yourself, numismatically-speaking, of course.

kranky · May 11, 2006 1:10AM

In your situation, I would simply not be comfortable leaving ANYTHING out in plain view - no magazines, no catalogs, no books and certainly no coins. Can you put everything in one room you can keep locked? It's a shame, but that's how I would feel.

That's why I could never get someone like that working in our house - I have too many coin books around. No place I could keep them all out of visible range.

tmot99 · May 11, 2006 1:13AM

WE have an area of our house that the domestic assistant does not clean. Our basement is where my office is (I work out of the house) and the kids play area (toys scattered everywhere, and not a chance they could be picked up in a reasonable time before she comes). Therefore, I try to remove catalogs to my office area prior to her visit. However, we did know her before and now the family so there was little risk for me.

RYK · May 11, 2006 1:15AM

The maid is bonded and insured, but what is to prevent her from telling her friends that there is a big time collector living in the house, and arrange for her buddies to burglarize the joint when we are not home?

I did not know that you lived with a big time collector!

Actually, I give no thought to such things. Coin books, catalogs, etc. are all over the place. I trust our nanny/housekeeper with the lives and safety of my children. Once you have taken that step, the coins and related materials are trivial.

MrEureka · May 11, 2006 1:24AM

I think you're safe if you don't keep coins in the house. After all, Consuela will have ample opportunity to determine if there are coins in the house. If she finds nothing, she's not going to arrange a burglary.

Cladiator · May 11, 2006 1:27AM

<< Actually, I give no thought to such things. Coin books, catalogs, etc. are all over the place. I trust our nanny/housekeeper with the lives and safety of my children. Once you have taken that step, the coins and related materials are trivial. >>

That's how coins and other valuables get stolen. It's also how children get abducted. Do you also trust everyone that your nanny/housekeeper talks to throughout her day? Do you trust every member of your nanny/housekeepers family and the people that they talk to throughout their day?

ricko · May 11, 2006 1:29AM

A large, professional grade safe, removes a great deal of worry. Cheers, RickO

bhartman35 · May 11, 2006 1:36AM

Compared to most of the people who post here, I'm strictly a nickel-and-dime collector (no pun intended). I do leave things around the house for the housekeeper. I don't have a lot of catalogs, and most of my coins (other than the slabbed stuff) is mixed in with pounds and pounds of pocket change. I've kknown the housekeeper and her family for about 20 years, though, so I'm comfortable with that. To be honest, at this point, and in my physical situation, having my collection in a safe deposit box in some bank is really more of a pain in the a$$ than it's worth to me. My entire collection is probably worth < $2000, though. As my collection grows, and when I move into a condo, I'll probably get a safe and bolt it to the floor.

cladking · May 11, 2006 1:41AM

I would never leave anything in sight lying around the house for strangers or
most guests to see. Anytime I talk to people about coins I make a point of tell-
ing them that my coins are in safety deposit boxes.

mrearlygold · May 11, 2006 1:45AM

I had one of those ( actually a pair) from Cuba. My original birth certificate came up missing from my desk and boy oh boy did I have an adventure in credit land for a few years.

Months into that, I was followed, a good friend of mine experienced a home invasion.....couple months later, I was in my living room when a big guy with a machete' was at the back door of my home trying to get in and that was one of the only times I pointed a weapon at someone with the intention of pulling the trigger.

Careful careful!

Longacre · May 11, 2006 1:49AM

<< I had one of those ( actually a pair) from Cuba. My original birth certificate came up missing from my desk and boy oh boy did I have an adventure in credit land for a few years.

Months into that, I was followed, a good friend of mine experienced a home invasion.....couple months later, I was in my living room when a big guy with a machete' was at the back door of my home trying to get in and that was one of the only times I pointed a weapon at someone with the intention of pulling the trigger.

Careful careful! >>

I think I should go back to scrubbing the toilets myself.

RYK · May 11, 2006 1:50AM

Do you also trust everyone that your nanny/housekeeper talks to throughout her day? Do you trust every member of your nanny/housekeepers family and the people that they talk to throughout their day?

We know her well, and we know her family well. There are a lot of things I worry about, but she is not one of them.

kiyote · May 11, 2006 1:52AM

I leave some things out, but I store my more valuable coins inside the 2nd paper tray of my laser printer in my office. No one would think to look there.

Dukie101 · May 11, 2006 1:52AM

A good security system.a good safe(bolted down),a commercial sze dog(German Shepherd etc.), several firearms within reach,and the will and know how to use them. Insurance. Enjoy your hobby and do not live in fear. It ruins the hobby.

Cladiator · May 11, 2006 2:04AM

<< Do you also trust everyone that your nanny/housekeeper talks to throughout her day? Do you trust every member of your nanny/housekeepers family and the people that they talk to throughout their day?

We know her well, and we know her family well. There are a lot of things I worry about, but she is not one of them. >>

To each his own. I just hope you're not repeating that same line to the FBI some day.

numonebuyer · May 11, 2006 2:11AM

All of my coin-related items (e.g., magazines, books, microscope, etc.) are in a room the cleaning people do not clean. My coins are in a safe deposit box.

MoneyCollector · May 11, 2006 2:18AM

I keep anything of value locked in my safe including spare keys, coins, guns, passports, birth certificates, checkbooks, small electronics, etc. I don't leave out any documents with information about anything such as bank statements, etc. I scan all documents and shred them (cross-shredder) and shred all junk mail with my name on it. Any documents I want to keep are locked in a large fire-proof filing cabinet. I assume that anything left out will be taken such as cash or pocket change. I even put my kids piggy banks in the safe. My computer is password protected although I keep important files on memory cards in my safe. I don't advertise that there is a safe in the house and it is somewhat hidden and a person would have to search for it to find it.

I'm not paranoid I'm just prepared. If you get up in the morning and go to work the average person assumes you're "rich" and therefore they deserve your stuff.

MrBreeze · May 11, 2006 2:19AM

I think it is pretty sad that RYK is the only other person (besides me) that is not making the assumption that housekeepers are criminals. Do you think everyone who works for you wants to be a criminal? Is it fathomable in your minds that some people just want to work hard and make their money and go home? As you sit on your towers, make sure you don't do anything illegal, yourself. And, by the way, putting an illegal to work is against the law. Paying anyone cash under the table for their labors is also illegal. A lot of these statements {could stem} from elitism and bigotry.

{Edited to tone down the original statement, which, when I read it a little later, came off as much stronger than I intended}

Cladiator · May 11, 2006 2:21AM

<< I keep anything of value locked in my safe including spare keys, coins, guns, passports, birth certificates, checkbooks, small electronics, etc. I don't leave out any documents with information about anything such as bank statements, etc. I scan all documents and shred them (cross-shredder) and shred all junk mail with my name on it. Any documents I want to keep are locked in a large fire-proof filing cabinet. I assume that anything left out will be taken such as cash or pocket change. I even put my kids piggy banks in the safe. My computer is password protected although I keep important files on memory cards in my safe. I don't advertise that there is a safe in the house and it is somewhat hidden and a person would have to search for it to find it. >>

Longacre · May 11, 2006 2:23AM

<< I think it is pretty sad that RYK is the only other person (besides me) that is not making the assumption that housekeepers are criminals. Do you think everyone who works for you wants to be a criminal? Is it fathomable in your minds that some people just want to work hard and make their money and go home? As you sit on your towers, make sure you don't do anything illegal, yourself. And, by the way, putting an illegal to work is against the law. Paying anyone cash under the table for their labors is also illegal. A lot of these statements reak of elitism and bigotry. >>

Mrbreeze-- thanks for the advice. The first thing that I did before the hiring is clear the tax issues related to the employment.

kranky · May 11, 2006 2:32AM

<< I think it is pretty sad that RYK is the only other person (besides me) that is not making the assumption that housekeepers are criminals. Do you think everyone who works for you wants to be a criminal? Is it fathomable in your minds that some people just want to work hard and make their money and go home? As you sit on your towers, make sure you don't do anything illegal, yourself. And, by the way, putting an illegal to work is against the law. Paying anyone cash under the table for their labors is also illegal. A lot of these statements reak of elitism and bigotry. >>

I hope my comments above did not come across as elitist or bigoted. I don't believe most people are dishonest. But I think it's best to not create temptation. Also, I don't want to create the possibility that an honest but gabby person might tell someone ELSE that "When I was working in that house over in Edgebrook, I noticed so-and-so has a bunch of weird books about coins. What is that about?" The comment might be completely innocent, and the person who says that might not even know there is such a thing as coin collecting. But I don't want to have to worry about the person to whom they might make that comment.

Cladiator · May 11, 2006 2:33AM

<< I think it is pretty sad that RYK is the only other person (besides me) that is not making the assumption that housekeepers are criminals. >>

Inaccurate observation. In my statements I mentioned the houskeeper, their family, their friends, the people they have contact with...all of which pose a potential threat. You can toss in gardeners, painters, construction workers, locksmiths, contractors, the list is endless. I'd consider no one a criminal until their actions call for it.

<< Do you think everyone who works for you wants to be a criminal? >>

No. It's a safe bet though that everyone knows someone that is a cirminal or knows someone that knows someone that is a criminal. Word of mouth spreads faster than herpes in Bangkok and should never be underestimated.

<< Is it fathomable in your minds that some people just want to work hard and make their money and go home? >>

Absolutely. However, can you control who that person talks to or who that person is sitting on the bus next to as they are talking? People hear things, people listen. Especially when you are talking about matters of finance. God only knows who is listening to your housekeeper as she quite innocently discuss's your funny coin cataloges that she has to stack to her best friend walking down the street. 9 times out of 10 information is transferred to bad people in a manner where the person who leaked it doesn't even realize it.

<< As you sit on your towers, make sure you don't do anything illegal, yourself. >>

That's funny.

<< And, by the way, putting an illegal to work is against the law. Paying anyone cash under the table for their labors is also illegal. >>

You're absolutely right.

<< A lot of these statements reak of elitism and bigotry. >>

Again, that's funny. Thinking that taking one's self interest, safety and security into mind is elitism or bigotry is the kind of thought process that has turned this once fine country into a haven for the weak, lazy, immoral and corrupt.

edited to appease the spelling nazis

MrBreeze · May 11, 2006 2:51AM

Cladiator

"It's a safe bet though that everyone knows someone that is a criminal or knows someone that knows someone that is a criminal.."

I hope you are kidding, that is ridiculous. I know someone who knows someone who knows someone, you can do better than that.

"SOME" of these statements...elitism and bigotry

Being smart/prepared/looking out for yourself and thinking everyone knows a criminal are two different things. Sure, everyone takes certain actions to be cautious. But, assuming a certain group of people has a negative element about them that we don't associate with oursleves, is a problem. Furthermore, this country is still fine. I love it. If you believe this is a haven for the weak, lazy, immoral and corrupt, then your tower may be higher than everyone else's. But, it sounds like you have a TV feed there, with live 24 hour news broadcasts feeding directly into your brain. Go outside once in a while and realize that 99.9% of people outside of your house are alright. Get to know them. You may be surprised.

ricko · May 11, 2006 2:57AM

<< A lot of these statements reak of elitism and bigotry. >>

This reminds me of the old saying - "A conservative is a liberal who has been mugged." If one does not consider the very real dangers of our current society, and allows themselves to 'go in harm's way'.... whether figuratively or actually.... then, the very loud wailing and gashing of teeth when tragedy befalls them is more than warrented to fall on deaf ears.
Be wise, be prudent - in all things.
Cheers, RickO

Cladiator · May 11, 2006 3:04AM

<< I hope you are kidding, that is ridiculous. I know someone who knows someone who knows someone, you can do better than that. >>

It's not ridiculous, it's true. Whether you believe it or not, it's true. Not all "criminals" are big, tough, uneducated brutes that have spent time in the "slammer". Naivety has been, and will continue to be, the downfall of many.

<< But, assuming a certain group of people has a negative element about them that we don't associate with oursleves, is a problem. >>

That certain group of people I've referred to is not based on race, color, religion, background, wealth, education or any other tangible factor you can come up with. It's just "people" in general.

<< Furthermore, this country is still fine. I love it. >>

Unforntunately you're mistaken, this country right now is very ill. Anyone who loves what this country currently is, most likely is a part of the problem. Whether they know it or not.

<< If you believe this is a haven for the weak, lazy, immoral and corrupt, then your tower may be higher than everyone else's. But, it sounds like you have a TV feed there, with live 24 hour news broadcasts feeding directly into your brain. Go outside once in a while and realize that 99.9% of people outside of your house are alright. Get to know them. You may be surprised. >>

Those live 24 hour news broadcast feeds your speaking of are a major part of the problem.

edited for spelling.

MrBreeze · May 11, 2006 3:14AM

First of all, I never said that a specific statement of yours was a problem. By you assuming that, it shows that you felt that to be true, not me. Your defensive stance has betrayed your true thoughts. Furthermore, I really feel for you. You are scared of your own shadow.

Cladiator · May 11, 2006 3:16AM

<< First of all, I never said that a specific statement of yours was a problem. By you assuming that, it shows that you felt that to be true, not me. Your defensive stance has betrayed your true thoughts. Furthermore, I really feel for you. You are scared of your own shadow. >>

Quite the opposite in fact. I'm not really willing to continue arguing with you about this as it's truely not going to do you any good. Perhaps one day you will realize the err in your ways. If not, it's no skin off my back.

MrBreeze · May 11, 2006 3:20AM

Thanks for the help. Could you please show me the err in my ways? I would love to be a better person who thinks like you. Please?

Longacre · May 11, 2006 3:21AM

Kids-- let's cool it now. Thanks.

Cladiator · May 11, 2006 3:23AM

<< Kids-- let's cool it now. Thanks. >>

Consider it cooled.

MrBreeze · May 11, 2006 3:23AM

Longacre, I apologize for taking your thread off course. My advice to you would be to do the smart things (which you have shown on several other posts that you already do), and take some other people's advice of, the out of sight, out of mind theories.

bhartman35 · May 11, 2006 3:38AM

<< I think it is pretty sad that RYK is the only other person (besides me) that is not making the assumption that housekeepers are criminals. Do you think everyone who works for you wants to be a criminal? Is it fathomable in your minds that some people just want to work hard and make their money and go home? As you sit on your towers, make sure you don't do anything illegal, yourself. And, by the way, putting an illegal to work is against the law. Paying anyone cash under the table for their labors is also illegal. A lot of these statements reak of elitism and bigotry. >>

I see no reason to operate on the assumption that housekeepers are would-be criminals. They're mostly just people trying to make a living. If something goes missing from a house you're working on, wouldn't you expect to be the first one suspected? I know it happens, but it's not (in my mind) a rational thing to worry about too much. You know who they are, you know where they live, and you know how to get in touch with them (or sic the police on them) if necessary.

In my situation, I really have no choice but to trust the person who works for me. My independence hinges upon paying people to do the things I can't do.

Another security related question-- coin related items laying around the house

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